Device for cleaning corner surfaces



Sept. 5, 1967 I; H. ARRY I 3,339,220 DEVICE FOR CLEANING CORNER SURFACES Filed Aug. 12/ 1964 /2 A? INVENTOR.

EARL H. BARRY BY W11 i. M44 164 ATTORNEYS 3,339,220 DEVICE FOR CLEANING CORNER SURFACES Earl H. Barry, Marblehead, Mass., assignor to Bay State Mop Wringer Co., Inc., Wilmington, Mass., at corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 389,070 Claims. (Cl. 15-233) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scrubbing device for cleaning corners which comprises a right-angled scrubber head supporting a removable scrubbing pad and an operating handle pivotally attached to and extending outwardly of the head.

This invention relates generally to cleaning devices and more particularly to a scrubbing tool capable of cleaning two mutually perpendicular surfaces simultaneously.

Mops or cleaning devices as presently known and used are capable of readily cleaning horizontal surfaces such as floors but when so used tend to streak or otherwise soil the baseboards of a room by splashing dirty water onto the baseboards which necessitates additional cleaning of the baseboards by hand. Such mops have the additional disadvantage of not being capable of cleaning the floor close to the edge of the room and thus not cleaning the junction between the baseboard and the floor. These mops are further incapable of cleaning the corners of the room.

In the past in order to clean close to the edges of a room, or the baseboards, or the junction between the baseboards and the floor or to clean the corners of a room, it was necessary that the cleaner get down on his hands and knees in a very awkward and uncomfortable position and engage in arduous hand labor with a device such as a scrubbing brush or sponge. Such hand labor is costly, inefficient, time consuming and because of its onerous nature it is destructive of the cleaners morale.

The above problems are, of course, greatly heightened when cleaning stairs since there are an increased number of corners and because of junctions between the treads and the risers.

Until the present invention there was no satisfactory single solution to this multiplicity of problems. The present invention strips wax, dirt, spots, stains, scuff and heel marks from floors and baseboards with a single stroke, without requiring hours of hard drudgery, makes short work of hard-to-clean stairs, gets into corners, cleans and leaves baseboards spotless, cleans the junction between the baseboard and the floor, reaches easily under low furniture thus reaching areas which ordinary mops cannot reach without moving the furniture and greatly improves employee morale.

These and other advantages are achieved by the present invention which comprises a right angled scrubber head formed to provide outer surfaces adapted to fit intersecting surfaces such as immediately adjoining areas of a baseboard and floor with an operating handle pivotally attached to the head and the head further having pad engaging means whereby a suitable scrubbing pad may be secured to said scrubber head.

The arrangement and construction of the device contemplated by the present invention can be more fully understood from the description which follows when it is considered with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tool of FIG. 1 taken along the plane 2-2;

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the means to secure the universal joint and handle to the tool head; and

United States Patent 0 FIG. 4 shows in detail a typical scrubber pad engaging head.

With reference to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a hand tool adapted for the simultaneous effective cleaning of intersecting surfaces such as immediately adjoining areas of a baseboard and a floor comprising a scrubber head 10 formed in a right angle to define a pair of perpendicular intersecting flat supporting plates 11 and 12, the outer surfaces of which are arranged to fit the areas to be cleaned. A brace 14 extends angularly between plates 11 and 12 and is secured to their inner surfaces by any convenient means such as spot welding. A handle 26, for propelling head 10, is pivotally attached to brace 14 by means of a universal joint 28. Pad engaging means such as fingers 15 and 16 are provided on one end of plate 12. These fingers may be formed as a part of plate 12 or may be, as shown, formed as integral parts of brace 14. Satisfactory pad engaging means are also provided on plate 11 so that a scrubbing pad 13 may be extended across the outer surfaces of plates 11 and 12 and secured thereto.

The pad engaging means mounted on plate \11 should have the additional capability of tensioning pad 13 and is shown more fully when considered with FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. A T-shaped member is provided by attaching a flat bar 19, having nail head like extensions 21 and 22 extending therefrom, to a screw 20. This T-shaped member is mounted on an extension 33, formed on brace 14, by passing screw 20 through an opening in extension 33 and by threading a nut 35 onto screw 20.

Returning to the details of pad 13, a sturdy backing member 43 extends along the entire length of pad 13 and beyond the ends thereof. Those portions of backing member 43 extending beyond the pad 13 are provided with suitable opening and reinforcing devices such as eyelets 17, 18, 23 and 24. Eyelets 17 and '18 have fingers 15 and 16 passing therethrough while eyelets 23 and 24 have nail head members 21 and 22 passing therethrough. Thus when nut 35 is tightened on screw 20, the pad 13 is tensioned across the outer surface of plates 11 and 12 thereby securing intimate contact between pad 13 and the outer surfaces of the plates 11 and 12. If desired, for example to provide additional tear strength, the backing 43 may be doubled upon itself at the end having eyelets 17 and 18, as shown in FIG. 2.

In order to prevent the buckling or bending of extension 33 when the pad 12 is so tensioned, a downwardly extending portion 34 of plate 11 is provided. This portion 34 is compressed when pad 13 is tensioned and prevents extension 33 from bending.

Passing now to universal joint 28 which is shown in great detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen that this universal joint 28 generally comprises two pivoting means to provide handle 26 with a 360 freedom of movement and is secured to brace 14 by any suitable means, such as clamp 27. One of the pivot means, namely the one allowing vertical motion to handle 26, consists of a nut and bolt arrangement 31 passing transversely through the end of handle 26 and securing handle 26 to a hollow U-shaped bracket 30. The pivot providing horizontal freedom of movement to handle 26 consists of a second U-shaped member 29 clamped or welded to the first U-Shaped member 30 as to form a hollow rectangular annular member secured to brace 14 by any convenient means, such as clamp 27.

Turning now to clamp 27 which secures the universal joint 28 to brace 14, it is shown as comprising a U-shaped member 36 having lateral flanges 37 and 38 extending therefrom. Lateral flange 37 is shown as passing through an opening 42 provided in brace 14 to the underside of brace 14. The other lateral flange 38 remains on the upper surface of brace 14 and is fastened thereto by means such as screws 39. When flange 38 is tightened to brace 14 it draws flange 37 tightly against the underside of brace 14.

Certain comments are now in order concerning the choice of material for fabrication of the device. Pad 13 is preferably composed of a suitable material such as nylon wool, impregnated with an abrasive, heat sealed to a strong backing member 43 comprising a reinforced webbing of nylon. Other materials may also be used such as steel wool stitched onto the backing member or if a polisher is desired, lambswool could be stitched onto the backing member which can be made out of other material such as canvas. The scrubber head is preferably made from a suitable gauge steel or aluminum sheet or molded or extruded from plastic. The handle 26 may be made of wood or metal and provided with a rubber grip 25. When handle 26 is made of metallic tubing, it should be coated with an insulating sleeve such as plastic to prevent shock and provide greater comfort to the user.

The size of the device may be scaled to meet the desired application although it has been found that for most applications plate 11 should be approximately six inches in length and plate 12 four inches in length.

Of course many other modifications of this device will become apparent or suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For example numerous pad engaging means other than those shown may be used. An example would be a spring type tensioning means. Different universal joints may also be provided. Consequently the spirit and scope of this invention should not be considered as defined by the foregoing disclosure but by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning tool consisting of a first plate and a second plate maintained perpendicular to one another, a brace maintained between and secured to said plates, a cleaning pad extending along the outer surfaces of said plates, said brace having extensions carrying a first means and second means securing said pad to said plates, said first means comprising extending fingers engaging said pad, said second means comprising a flange extending from said brace and having an opening therein, a screw member passing through said opening, a nut threaded on said screw member bear-ing upon said flange to tension said pad upon actuation, a bar member engaging said pad maintained on said screw and a compression support between said flange and one of said plates, a U- shaped clamp having lateral flanges extending therefrom and secured to said brace, a universal joint having a first end and a second end, said first end of said joint secured to said brace by said clamp, said universal joint having its other end secured to a handle which handle is capable of transmitting a propelling force to said tool.

2. The device of claim 1 where said universal joint comprises a solid U-shaped member inserted in and secured to a hollow U-shaped member thereby providing a rectangle having an annulus therein and a nut and bolt arrangement passing transversely through said hollow U-shaped member.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said solid member is secured to said brace by means of a U-shaped clamp having lateral extensions thereon.

4. A cleaning tool consisting of a first plate and a second plate supported at substantially right angles to each other, a brace having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening therein maintained between and secured to said plates at an angle of approximately 45 to said plates, a substantially rectangular cleaning pad attached along its entire length to a backing member, Said backing member extending along the outer surfaces of said plates, said brace having extensions carrying a first means and second means securing said backing member to said plates, said first means comprising fingers extending at an angle to said first plate and engaging said backing member, said second means comprising a flange extending from said brace at an angle to said second plate and having an opening therein, a screw member passing through said opening, a nut threaded on said screw member bearing upon said flange to tension said pad upon actuation, a bar member engaging said backing member maintained on said screw and a compression support maintained between said flange and one of said plates, said compression support comprising a downwardly turned lip on one of said plates, a U-shaped clamp having lateral flanges extending therefrom and adapted to be secured to said brace, one of said flanges passing through the opening in said brace to the lower surface thereof and the other of said flanges being secured by screws to the upper surface of said flange, a universal joint having a first and a second end, said first end of said joint secured to said brace by said clamp, said universal joint comprising a first U-shaped member secured to a second U-shaped member as to form a hollow rectangle and a nut and bolt arrangement securing a handle to the other end of said universal joint which handle is capable of moving in relation to said plates and transmitting a propelling force to said plates through said universal joint and said brace.

5. A hand tool adapted for the simultaneous contacting of intersecting surfaces, comprising a head formed to provide a pair of perpendicular flat supporting outer surfaces arranged to fit said areas to be contacted, an operating handle universally pivoted to and extending outwardly from said head and arranged to transmit a propellant force to said head to propel said tool along the areas to be contacted, adjustable pad engaging means secured to said head whereby a flexible contact pad may be extended across said outer surfaces of said head, and screw means for tensioning said pad by adjustment of at least one of said pad engaging means to secure intimate contact between said pad and the outer surfaces of said head; wherein said head further includes a brace portion securing the perpendicular arrangement of the outer surfaces of said head and wherein said screw means for tensioning said pad comprises a flange extending from said head and having an opening therein, a screw member passing through the opening therein, a nut threaded on said screw member bearing upon said flange to tension said pad upon rotation of said screw by moving at least one of said pad-engaging means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,003 10/1906 Saffold 15--233 923,871 6/ 1909 Miller. 1,346,918 7/ 1920 Snyder. 1,944,727 1/ 1934 Blomstrom 51-392 X 2,817,931 12/1957 Houser 51-393 X 3,105,262 10/1963 Lathrop et a1. 15-235.7 3,106,736 10/1963 Knapp 15--119.1 3,279,130 10/1966 Nelson 15-231 X FOREIGN PATENTS 26,424 12/ 1904 Great Britain. 747,268 3/1956 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

5. A HAND TOOL ADAPTED FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTING OF INTERSECTING SURFACES, COMPRISING A HEAD FORMED TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF PERPENDICULAR FLAT SUPPORTING OUTER SURFACES ARRANGED TO FIT SAID AREAS TO BE CONTACTED, AN OPERATING HANDLE UNIVERSALLY PIVOTED TO AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID HEAD AND ARRANGED TO TRANSMIT A PROPELLANT FORCE TO SAID HEAD TO PROPEL SAID TOOL ALONG THE AREAS TO BE CONTACTED, ADJUSTABLE PAD ENGAGING MEANS SECURED TO SAID HEAD WHEREBY A FLEXIBLE CONTACT PAD MAY BE EXTENDED ACROSS SAID OUTER SURFACES OF SAID HEAD, AND SCREW MEANS FOR TENSIONING SAID PAD BY ADJUSTMENT OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PAD ENGAGING MEANS TO SECURE OF SAID CONTACT BETWEEN SAID PAD AND THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID HEAD; WHEREIN SAID HEAD FURTHER INCLUDES A BRACE PORTION SECURING THE PERPENDICULAR ARRANGEMENT OF THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID HEAD AND WHEREIN SAID SCREW MEANS FOR TENSIONING SAID PAD COMPRISES A FLANGE EXTENDING FROM SAID HEAD AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A SCREW MEMBER PASSING THROUGH THE OPENING THEREIN, A NUT THREADED ON SAID SCREW MEMBER BEARING UPON SAID FLANGE TO TENSION SAID PAD UPON ROTATION OF SAID SCREW BY MOVING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PAD-ENGAGING MEANS. 